This is a cute little place to stop by if you like history and antiques. I love old history but if…read morethis isn't your jam, you would think this was dry and boring. It was free, worth a short visit, and the volunteers are super sweet although the subject matter can be dry.

Thanks to The Sequester and last year's budget impasse, this national park service location has…read morebeen closed for the better part of the last two years straight. But about a month ago I noticed that The Germantown Whitehouse will be open in 2014 on Saturdays only from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 28 - September 1 so it was time to see what was up on Germantown Avenue. Twice this house sheltered George Washington. In 1793, he took refuge here from the deadly yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia that killed over 4,000 of the 40,000 that lived in the city at the time. During November of 1793 Washington also had four cabinet meetings at the house with Jefferson, Knox, Hamilton and Randolph having attended. The following summer Washington, family and slaves made it a welcome retreat from the heat of the capital city. Also known as the Deshler-Morris House, the home gets its name from its first and last owners. David Deshler built the home beginning in 1752. Elliston P. Morris donated it to the National Park Service in 1948. Today, the home has been restored to its 18th century appearance. You actually enter the house next door which is the Bringhurst House which has some displays that document the history of Germantown in general, a timeline of The Revolution and how the Deshler-Morris house was not only occupied by Washington twice but also by General Howe. After that you are led next door to The House itself where one of the volunteers will take you through the first and second floor to see the various displays, period furniture pieces and some pre-1800 items as well. A few things worth noting if you go: As mentioned prior, the house(s) are only supposed to be open on Saturday's until September 1st. After that it's anybody's guess as to what the powers that be will allow seeing as I would assume that keeping rangers at this location takes money/manpower away from the other locations that also fall under the Independence Hall NPS jurisdiction. (The Hall itself/The Liberty Bell/Portrait Gallery in the Second Bank of the US/Edgar Allen Poe NHS/Thaddeus Kosciuszko NM/etc.) Parking on Germantown Avenue is via two hour meters only so your best bet is to drive around the block and park for free on a side street like West Coulter. Some genius at the NPS is doing their best to make this place a well hidden secret. It formerly had its own listing on the NPS site at nps.gov/demo but that listing was removed around two years ago. Any information can now be found at nps.gov/inde/historycult... but that doesn't have crazy things on it like the house's physical address. Overall maybe this would take an hour to see tops. The rangers on duty really didn't seem to know their heads from a hole in the ground but the two older women who were volunteering knew the history of not just the house but of the area inside-out.

We walked through the park, past Boathouse Row (did laugh at Bachelor's Barge Club) all the way to…read morethe end. Just gorgeous! There were sculls on the river. The guard at the Engine Houses and Mill told us about the flood 19' of water!) The dam was a surprise. And a gentleman fishing told us he was catching trout and crabs. Fun walk!

"One of the nicest little places about" as Mark Twain would say…read more Whenever I come to Philly to see my best friend we always make it a point to visit the Fairmount Water Works. Since we've been going they've been doing some work it seems like to improve the place and make it more known. I sort of liked that it was this cool hidden gem right by the museum but also excited to see what else will come. When we went a few months ago they had an exhibit on the history of public swimming pools and how racism affected them. It was a really informative and well laid out exhibit. I had never seen the swimming pool inside the building before as that side has been blocked off in the past so that was a special treat. There's a lot of history there, so take your time, read the plaques, and enjoy the scenery.

BLUF: An eclectic mix of abandoned buildings, new construction, restored historical structures and…read moreparks along the Delaware River. Very minimal Navy presence but various companies, some in the shipbuilding industry, occupy space among the 1,200 acres. At its height during WWII, 40,000 people worked at The Navy Yard in Philadelphia both building and repairing ships. However, in 1995 the yard closed as an official Navy base. There is still a tiny Navy presence today and even still some ship building/repairing/demobilization companies on site but it seems to be a shell of its former self. My husband and I enjoyed exploring on bikes for over an hour. There is a really nice bike path along the Delaware River. Also, the streets, at least on a holiday weekend, were almost abandoned so we enjoyed biking without worrying about vehicular traffic. The Navy Yard still has a ghost fleet but except two Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruisers, CG-58 USS Philippine Sea and CG-60 USS Normandy, we couldn't get a clear view of any of them. I believe there are a handful of other cruisers moored behind one or more of the Rhoads Industries buildings. The highlight for me was the historic architecture. While many buildings are dilapidated, some are beautifully restored. I also enjoyed getting a close view of a few dry docks and one of the slipways that has been converted, in part to sports courts. URBN, the parent company for Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie and Free People is headquarters here. There are various other businesses too but except for some the ship-related businesses and a medical office, they all seem to have a small presence. The Navy's presence includes Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) and the Navy police to keep it all secure and safe. I was hoping to find dining and shopping at The Navy Yard but that doesn't really exist. URBN has a food court and there are about three other places where you might find food. Instead, I thoroughly enjoyed the history and architecture and I'm looking forward to learning more about this site. While a trip through the Navy Yard might not be interesting to everyone one, I thought it was fascinating.

Ran a 5k here for St Patrick's day and it is a beautiful area! Very clean and people are super…read morefriendly. We stopped by the fire house after the race and picked up a shirt to support local firefighters! Looking forward to next year :)

Paper Mill House (ca.1770) is a township museum located in the same building as the Newtown Square…read moreHistorical Society's offices, but note that they are separate entities. The Paper Mill House allows visitation to its display rooms during open hours, while the Historical Society is by appointment, and is another part of the building. The Paper Mill House Museum is only open Sundays 1-4 PM in July and August. Admission to the museum is free, although donations are appreciated. There is a rep from the Historical Society there to answer questions, but you tour the display yourself. Paper Mill House was originally a residence for local mill workers. The building was restored in the '80s and is now set up as Colonial-era rooms, such as a colonial kitchen, parlor, bedroom, and 19th century general store. On the 2nd floor there are local history exhibits. The rest of the museum is offices and conference room for the Historical Society. There are 4.5 acres of grounds, including a neat wood plank bridge over a stream. The museum building itself is close on the corner of Paper Mill Rd. and St. Davids Rd., but, though the address is Paper Mill Rd., note that the gravel parking lot is off of St. Davids Rd.

Incredibly beautiful Monument honoring our veterans from the Revolutionary war to the present in a…read moretasteful beautiful setting. Located on Pennsylvania Route 3---West Chester Pike in Newtown Square, it's an easy ride from Philly or any of the burbs. Its statuesque granite is a fitting tribute to those who served.

This 18th century cobblestone street lined with narrow houses, punctuated by colorful doors,…read moreshutters and planters--fast-forwards history to the present and paints a picture of a life in Philadelphia 300 years ago. As a stop on the Constitutional Walking Trail, this alley incorporates plaques and signs speaking to its history, with two buildings strictly dedicated as museum use. Open Friday to Sunday 12-4pm, you can enter (tickets $3 adult / $2 child) and observe the rooms setup as how occupants from the 1700s may have lived. I just missed this time frame when I visited though would suggest taking this glimpse if you're there during these hours! Otherwise it's still a treat to walk down the street for a few photos; the houses are well maintained and most are privately owned with caveat that certain exterior and interior architectural features must be preserved. There is currently a property for sale on this street if you want to own a piece of history! As others have mentioned, no bathrooms available, (it's mostly an outdoor area after all), and street parking is available though can be difficult to find. Very walkable from other key sights like Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Reading Terminal.

Such a cool stop that I feel a lot of people may miss or skip. DONT SKIP IT. This street has been…read moreso amazingly preserved to what things looked like prior. And what's even cooler and the area is still residential and is still being lived in. Such a beautiful alley and cool stop while in Philly.

As part of the Wawa, welcome America several of the Fairmont Park houses have free admission. This…read morehouse is originally a summer home built in the 1700s. You could tour the first floor and gardens. Volunteers were outside to talk about the gardens inside volunteer gave a lot of information about the house. Most of the house still has a period details and some furniture. It was really interesting to see the house and gardens and learn about the history

This house has been maintained by the Royal Heritage Society of Delaware Valley since 1982. They…read morehave a caretaker. The group has social fundraising events and keeps the house in excellent condition. The most authentic historic section is the Scottish baking oven and fireplace in the basement. The City required all houses built after 1796 to be constructed with bricks. Ormiston was raised in 1798 and had one of the first indoor ovens. The annual Holiday Wassail Party has had its event written up in the NY Times Food Section. Not open daily, but when events are scheduled. The garden is a beautiful work in progress and has its own committee. Many royal visitors from England have dropped by or stayed for tea. Prince Edward has planted a tree in the front yard. The original owner, Edward Burd, and his wife, Elizabeth Shippen (whose sister was Peggy Shippen, the wife of Benedict Arnold) had distinguished ancestors and descendants.

Battery Park is a public park in New Castle. It has a walking path/trail that leads around the edge…read moreof the park along the Delaware River. It's a nice place to stretch your legs during a day of exploring New Castle, especially if it's a pretty day. But the views can be a little industrial, and I wouldn't say it's a must see if you have a day to explore New Castle.

I really liked this park. Close to downtown. Ran along the water, which was very pretty. My only…read morenegative comment is that there is no path from the parking lot to get to the path on the water, you just had to walk over grass and uneven ground, which is difficult with a stroller or if you have difficulties walking.